New Lead Actress Found as Wendy Williams Becomes Executive Producer of Aaliyah Biopic

Lifetime has found their replacement.

Actress Alexandra Shipp has stepped in to replace Zendaya Coleman as the star of Lifetime’s upcoming Aaliyah biopic. The film’s newest executive producer is talk show host Wendy Williams, who announced news of Shipp’s casting on Twitter Friday.

The biopic was put on hold in June after Zendaya's sudden departure from the project. However, Williams announced that production will move forward later this month.

The film, Aaliyah: More Than a Woman, is based on Christopher Farley’s biography of the late R&B singer. Produced by Aaliyah Productions Inc., with Howard Braunstein and Debra Martin Chase serving as executive producers, Bradley Walsh will direct, while Michael Elliot will write the script.

Shipp's acting career includes appearances on Nickelodeon’s House of Anubis as well as Switched at Birth, Awkward and Ray Donovan.